Of Grit and Gold

I left the trading company after what seemed like an eternity of asking the owner to stop bowing. My satchel heavy with genuine gold coins and my spirits a bit lifted knowing I was taken care of for the foreseeable future. No more ripping myself apart to pay for things.

And seeing as my next stop would be the northern continent of Galmara. Well it was obvious I was more than likely heading into an area full of headaches. Money probably would solve a fair share. But the problem was the clans.

The dragonman clan that has been harassing my family while I was asleep is there. And seeing as I will be heading there I plan to "persuade" them to leave my family alone. And if they don't listen then I suppose my next plan will be to put those who oppose in the ground. 6 feet down sounds nice.

Bullying my family comes with a hefty price as it is. But trying it on my family when I wasn't able to help, makes a grown man even more bitter. And bitter meant a lot to me. Bitter was my hospital bed and self-righteous family members". Bitter was waking to find my wife dead and my children grow not knowing who I was. Bitter was the taste of failure as a man, as a father, and as a husband. I had had enough Bitter to make a lemon seem like the sweetest persimmon. And that was something I would repay a hundred fold.

I spread my wings and jumped to the skies. The force raising a cloud of dust that exploded outward making many cough and retreat cursing at my ascending body. The feeling of wind beneath my wings was relieving to some extent. The rush of air cooled my body forcing my mind to be more awake. And I needed my mind clear as it was going to be a bit of a bother getting to Galmara.

I hadn't been there before so using a gate out of the question. The limitations of a lesser god really are a headache. I was tied to one continent. Not the entire planet. So until I get there I had to use normal transport.

But at least the view was amazing.

The sea's green waves danced below me sparkling against the sun as I raced amidst the clouds. Some clouds were thick with water leaving my drenched as I danced playfully in their fluffy embrace.

While I did say this trip would be a headache it was also going to be nice. I missed the feeling of flight. Even though I flew to Weremar and to the woods to hunt the cult. I would never tire of this feeling. And frankly the thought of not flying almost hurt my spirit.

I flapped my wings with gentle beats as my form began to shift back to its usual size. My satchel had an adjustable belt which made it so I didn't strangle myself mid-transformation. And soon my shadow danced across the waves just as much as the light did.

The sounds of great beating wings sounded with enough force that the clouds spiralled and spun away. Misted water trickled against my scales dancing before flying off into the air below.

I huffed as some water got into my nose making me sneeze. I shook my head perturbed and decided it was enough playing and I should take things seriously. I summoned winds around my body to shield me and boost my flight speed before rocketing northward. The sound of me breaking the sound barrier echoed through the skies like thunder as the clouds exploded away from me becoming nothing but pure vapor.

The flight itself lasted 6 hours and I didn't see a single thing as I went. Not a fishing boat, travel ship, or merchant vessel. It was simply empty waves. No whales or krackens. Just waves. Their splashing noise echoed from below.

I soon felt the air grow colder as more ice began to form amidst the waves below. My joints complained a little at the cold and I would occasionally burst into flames to keep myself warm. But I didn't want to waste too much magic on convenience as I didn't know the welcome I might receive. After all. I was planning on bullying a few pricks.

Snow began to blow as I saw land in the distance. The moonlight gave the scene a ghostly look as I saw coastal cliff covered in flickering lights. It's surface rose hundreds of meters above the waves that crashed into its hazardous surface. Covered in carved out walkways and caves that dug deep into its face it looked half-hazard but it was obviously intentional.

As I started my approach from the skies I saw the air light up below with magic as I suddenly found myself targetted with a large variety of spells.

Fire bolts, ice shards, wind blades, and Rock spears pierced and detonated in the air around me as I danced toward the ground. Most missed me and the ones that found their mark couldn't hurt me if they tried.

I let a rock spear and fire bolt hit me causing a explosion of flame and dirt. I vaguely heard some cheers from below before the cloud cleared revealing a completely unharmed monster.

The cheers died in their throats as I finished my descent. Mages lined 5 large towers that were mounted to the top of the cliff. Great walls made of thick stone connected them like a great shield around the settlement.

I heard a grating noise as a gate opened to release soldiers from its maw. They wore no metal armor and their hands held no weapons. Instead I saw a bustling of Fur and scales as claws churned the dirt from their charge. I could hear panting as beastmen charged toward me with fervor. I tossed my satchel a fair way away so it wouldn't get trampled before I cracked my knuckles.

A large humanoid wolf lunged at me. His claws sparked against my scales as I smiled and started fighting. I absorbed my wings into my body and started brawling with excitement.

They never asked who I was or demanded any form of identification. They came for battle and blood. And I would give them blood. Just not mine.

I kicked the Wolf in front of me sending him like a meteor into his comrades behind with howling and yelling. A tigerman grabbed one of my arms trying to bend me to the ground with a hold but I rotated into a forward flip and threw him skyward before punching a rhino-man in the side of the head. His horn cracking from the force.

A cheetah-man grabbed my horns from the front kneeing my chin which hurt. But I rocked forwards and headbutted them sending them tumbling. An Elephant type charged at me. His torsoe was covered in thick hide as tusks burst from an elephant shaped head. His humanoid hands grappled my own as he pushed me back leaving trails dug into the ground.

As the battle raged a sound could be heard rising. It was laughter. Not like a maniac. But it was primal and much like a roar. Deep and gutteral as it echoed through the howling hoards. Beastmen and women flying left right and center around a slightly bloodied golden creature who's fighting style became more vicious and brutal. A palm would send a beast flying while a chop would send a group tumbling. His tail whipped making some cry out in pain.

I had never been in an all out brawl before. But these bloody battle driven idiots were having fun. A brawl sure some really held killing intent. But when they started realizing I hadn't killed any of them and instead found me laughing some entered a brawling state.

"The one who beats me gets a sack of gold!" I shouted as I crouched and started really brawling. Some of the people had broken ribs or dislocated shoulders seemed to have their eyes glow as a smile stretched across their faces.

"Get him!"

"That gold is mine!"

"Hey! Don't block me!"

The race was on. Who could beat the gold dragon?

The battle lasted till noon. Where it ended with me sitting at the top of a pile of unconscious beast people. Some groaned in pain as others just foamed from the mouth.

"Haaa....haaa.... Haaa..." I panted as I looked at the sky gulping down the air as my burning lungs began to settle.

"You lost know how to party." I grunted as I jumped to the ground. My satchel which I had thrown away returned to my hand as I moved toward the city leaving the throng of unconscious people in my wake.

The gates stayed closed at my approach but it mattered little as I bent them open with a flick of the wrist. There was an army of mages inside all prepared with spells and they unleashed them the moment they saw the gate cave.

Explosions of elements of every kind arched through the air releasing waves of heat and cold. Crackling with lightning and rattled with rocks that bounced against the cobblestones.

"Cease fire!" A command echoed from a mage dressed in a rainbow of colors. Each representing an element he had mastered.

The mages stopped launching their spells. Some had pale faces as they were nearing their mana limit. Others were chugging water from how much they were chanting to launch spells.

The cloud of debris and smoke shivered making the commander squint before a force made the cloud disperse like it never existed. The source of course was me.

Completely unharmed and as I brushed off any dirt that has managed to stick.

"Kinda rude to attack without identifying your opponent." I grumbled to the human mages. They all wore masks that looked like beasts. But beastmens unique characteristic is that they can only cast magic on their own bodies. The only exceptions were the mythic type bloodlines. Pheonix, dragon, Gorgon, etc. these are able to apply magic outside themselves. Which made these idiots wearing masks of things other than those types humans.

I cracked my neck again as I moved to go deeper into the city. "Don't move!" The commander shouted before I fixed a glare onto him making him freeze. I gestured behind me. "Might wanna heal the idiots outside. Once that's done I owe them a drink for entertaining me. Unless you want to waste your magic on someone you can't even scratch with your pitiful magics." I growled out making a couple of the mages tremble in fear.

I continued moving past the mage line and toward a place marked with a foaming tankard. A bar. "I could use a drink." I hummed as I entered its doors.

The smell of food and drink made my stomach growl as I quickly found my seat and waved at a waitress. She was a cheetah dressed in leather armor for comfort I imagine as it covered all the important parts. "Could I get today's special?" I asked.

"Of course!" She purred before rushing off to the back.

She returned a few minutes later with a nice looking fish dish. "Today's special is Carpathan Cod battered and fried with our special seasoning and some tubers also fried in same manner. Would you like anything to drink with your order sir?"

"An ale please. If you don't have that any other alcohol will do. Though I imagine with a beauty like you around all of them will taste amazing." I said with a smile which made her blush before rushing off again.

I ordered the same meal three times before I was satisfied. The taste was magnificent. Not too oily and it was juicy. One flavor didn't overpower the others and it was well balanced.

I sat there with my ale for another hour before I heard someone come through the door.